Data for : Evaluation of WRF Microphysics Schemes for Simulating Lightning and Rainfall over the Complex Terrain of the Western Himalayan Region

Description This dataset contains lightning and rainfall simulation outputs from the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model for a severe pre-monsoon thunderstorm event that occurred on 23 May 2023 over the western Himalayan region (WHR). The simulations were performed using four microphysics (MP) schemes: WSM6, Thompson, Morrison, and WDM5. Observational datasets from the Indian Lightning Location Network (ILLN) and the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission are included for evaluation. All model outputs correspond to a 3 km horizontal resolution domain centered over Uttarakhand. File Descriptions 1. Lightning_flash_grids_raw.xlsx This file contains raw lightning flash rate (FR) data at 3 km grid resolution from: ILLN observations WRF simulations using WSM6 WRF simulations using Thompson WRF simulations using Morrison WRF simulations using WDM5 Flash rates are provided without normalization and represent grid-point level lightning activity across the model domain. 2. Time_series_lightning_rainfall.xlsx This file contains domain-integrated lightning and rainfall time series for the study region. Lightning time series were generated by spatially aggregating flash counts across all 3 km × 3 km grid cells within the selected target domain. For each time step, flash counts from all grid cells were summed to obtain total lightning activity over the study area. Rainfall time series include: GPM satellite-derived rainfall WRF-simulated rainfall using WSM6 Thompson Morrison WDM5 Rainfall values were spatially averaged over all 0.1° × 0.1° grid cells within the defined domain. These data enable analysis of temporal variability and intercomparison between simulated and observed lightning and rainfall. 3. hydromets_vertical_profiles.xlsx This file contains vertical profiles of hydrometeor mixing ratios from WRF simulations for the four MP schemes (WSM6, Thompson, Morrison, WDM5). The variables include: qc (cloud water mixing ratio) qr (rainwater mixing ratio) qi (ice mixing ratio) qs (snow mixing ratio) Profiles are provided as a function of model height levels and represent domain-averaged vertical distributions during the event period. 4. Spatial_rainfall_data_12x12km_20230523.xlsx This file contains spatial rainfall data resampled to 12 km × 12 km resolution for performance evaluation. The dataset includes: GPM rainfall observations WRF-simulated rainfall from WSM6 Thompson Morrison WDM5 These data support spatial comparison between modeled and observed rainfall fields for 23 May 2023.